Clutch



I Sept. 13, 1927. 1,642,475

C. G. WOOD CLUTCH Filed Aug. 8. 1924 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iNVENTORCigareficegflur/ M 5 452,: fl ATTORNEYS ,gjz

' C. G. WOOD 7 CLUTCH ll iled Aug. 8. 1924 2 Shee eat 2 lNVENTOR 0 w {I}ATTORNEY5 Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,642,475 PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE G. WOOD, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA.

CLUTCH.

Application filed August 8, 1924. Serial No. 736,944.

This invention relates to clutches, and is illustrated as embodied inseveral different forms in automobile clutches of the plate or disktype. An object of the invention is to cushion shocks on thetransmission mechanism, for example from impulses given the crankshaftby explosions in the several engine cylinders, when the clutch is let insud-' denly, and to cushion shocks transmitted back to the engine fromthe road Wheels, by the use of springs or equivalent yielding meansarranged to connect the clutch plate section;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the clutch plate of Figure 1; Figure 31s a similar rear elevation of a modified form of clutch plate;

Figure 4 isa Fi re 3;.

, igures 5 and 6am respectively a rear elevation and a vertical sectionshowlng a second modification;

' 26 with a .flywheel 28, the

also a part of the clutch Figures 7 and 8 are respectively arearelevation and a vertical section showing a third modification;

Thearrangemen shown in Fi re 1' includes a transmission 20, a clutch m,a housing 22, and an engine 24 havin a crankshaft ywheel ordinarily 1formin The clutch, which may be used with any one I of the clutch platesshown in Figures 2 to '8, but which in Figure 1 is shown with the plateof Figure 2, drives the transmission yieldingly through a driven shaft30. The

- clutch plate is clamped between the flywheel 28' anda clutch ring 32keyed on bolts 34 throw the to rotate with the flywheel, by levers,36

I pivoted on a support 38 held by the bolts 84 axially spaced from theflywheel. The

levershave their ends hooked into loops '40. pressed out of a stamping42 having a.

flange enga ed by the clutch 5 ring 44 to c utch in. The clutc is thrownsection on the line 44 of out against the resistance of spring 44 by aclutch release bearing 46 operated by depression of the clutch pedal(not shown);

Except as further described below, the above-identified parts may be ofany desired construction. v

In the, form shown iii Figures 1 and 2 the clutch plate includes a hub50 spline .on

shaft 30, and an annular plate or disk 52,

shown faced with friction material 54. Spiral springs 56 and 58 connectthe hub and disk, thus forming the driving means for shaft 30. Eachspring is looped about a rivet 60 connecting it to disk 52 atits outerend, brought around the inner end of the other spring, and then loopedabout a rivet 62 connecting it to hub 50 at its inner end, The springsare confined laterally by disk 52 an an annular plate 64 held bytherivets 60 and by extra rivets 66. The sprin 56 their inner ends and thehub 50. This provides an extremely stiff coupling between the shafts 26and 30 but at the same time one which wlll yield sufiiciently to preventthe transmission of shocks from one of said shafts to the other. s

The plate shown in Figures 3 and 4 differs from t at described above,inthat springs 156 and 158 are secured to hub 50 by being sprun 68 and-70formed on hub 50. fication of Figures 5 and 6, the inner ends of sprmgs256 and 258 are hooked over lugs 72 and 74 form d on hub 50. A similararrangement is shown in Figures 7 and 8, except that the springs 356 and358 and the lugs 172 and 174 are difierent inform. In all forms of mydevice as will be appreciated substantially the same comparatively shortand stiff springs, U-shaped in form, are made use ofthe outer ends ofthe springs being secu into recesses defined by pair}? of lugs- 11 t em0 to the disc 52 at diametrically 'opposite points, and their innerends to the hub While a number of modifications of the invention havebeen described in detail, it is not the intention to limit its scope tothose particular embodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clutchof the class described, a r0- tating hub; a clutch platesurrounding said hub; and two springs intermediate said hub and plateand through WhlCl1 OIl8 is driven from the other; said springs beingU-shaped in form and the outer ends thereof being connected with saidplate at diametrically opposite points, and the inner ends to said hubalso at diametrically opposite points spaced, however, substantially 90degrees from said first mentioned points.

2. In a clutch of the class described, a rotating hub; a clutch platesurrounding said hub also at diametrically opposite points spaced,however, substantially 90 degrees from said first mentioned points; saidsprings partially enclosing one another and being parallel, and lyingboth in the same plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of thehub and disc.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

0. e. WOOD.

